DescriptionWe are Uisce Éireann. Every day, we are responsible for the delivery of secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. As Ireland’s national regulated water utility, our vision is a sustainable Ireland where water is respected and protected, for the planet and all the lives it supports.
Our purpose at Uisce Éireann is to rise to the challenge of delivering transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. That means we are proud to take on the responsibility of protecting our water supply and passing on a safe and secure water system to a rapidly growing population and empowering Ireland’s social and economic growth.
We are passionate about empowering our people, enabling them to make a positive impact on communities across Ireland. We are guided by a shared vision and purpose, grounded in values that define who we are and shape how we work, where we deliver for customers and communities, we work better together, we do the right thing, we aim high, and we keep each other safe. Our behaviours define how we interact, communicate, and succeed together. These values and behaviours apply to each one of us, across every role, location, and level.
Our goal is to attract and develop skilled and talented people from diverse backgrounds, who bring a dynamic range of expertise and insights to our work. With a strong, values-driven workforce, we ensure Uisce Éireann can continue advancing Ireland’s water services and meeting the needs of the communities we serve for generations to come.
The Role:
The Environmental Regulation function is responsible for the day-to-day management of environmental regulation and compliance. The function monitors the compliance of the water and wastewater network and treatment works, influences external environmental policy and manages environmental stakeholder relationships. Environmental Regulation provides expertise to the Uisce Éireann business on influencing environmental policy and managing stakeholders around environmental regulation affecting Uisce Éireann’s practices. The function provides regulatory expertise to the business, including the Senior Leadership Team, in all aspects of environmental regulation. The team provides support on legislative and regulatory changes that will affect Uisce Éireann policies in the future.
The Scientific and Technical Services (STS) functional area is responsible for the national provision of operational support services to include sampling and laboratory analytics, ensuring that activities are performed in accordance with regulatory obligations to protect public health and the environment. The STS Quality Team will develop, communicate, and manage the STS Quality Management System (QMS).
Reporting to the STS Quality Manager, the STS Quality Analyst is responsible for undertaking audits, managing non-conformances, and performing other quality activities to support the development and management of the QMS and maintenance of accreditation. Travel to off-site locations for auditing purposes and non-conformance investigations will be a requirement for this role.
Please note the following working hours and duties apply to the operational phase of the Laboratory and Sampling service. There will be an initial development phase in which working hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and duties relating to the development of the service will apply until the operational phase commences.
Standard working hours for this role are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
As the laboratory’s operational hours will be 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, this role requires some flexibility in terms of working hours, as the candidate may be infrequently required to work non-standard hours (e.g., 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. or 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.). This would be dependent on business needs and notified in advance. There is also a service commitment to providing laboratory cover on weekends and Public Holidays. When required to perform weekend/public holiday work, this will be infrequent as part of a defined rota and in addition to the standard working week. Rostered work performed outside 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday will be remunerated as a roster participation allowance.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Undertake technical audits of STS processes to ensure customer focus and compliance with ISO 17025, ISO 5667, INAB requirements and relevant legislation to ensure the maintenance of accreditation.
Develop the audit schedule in conjunction with the Quality Manager.
Management of non-conformances, including analyses of root cause, extent and implications, identification of associated risks and opportunities, identification and implementation of corrective actions, and review of effectiveness of corrective actions.
Manage change requests and change control, including impact analysis on other areas of the Quality Management System.
Support the development and delivery of test method verification/validation programmes.
Prepare SOPs and supporting documentation as required.
Manage document control and review.
Design calibration and maintenance schedules for laboratory and sampling equipment and review certificates.
Perform operational risk assessments of test methods and other aspects of the QMS.
Monitor analytical quality control across all STS Laboratories and sampling.
Subscription, distribution and reporting of proficiency testing schemes.
Identify process improvements to maintain quality and integrity of the sampling and analytical processes, drive efficiency and adopt industry best practice.
Support the design and implementation of laboratory training programmes.
Prepare documentation to support audits by external stakeholders and liaise with auditors.
Establish and maintain positive, professional working relationships with the STS Laboratory and Sampling Teams and support Uisce Éireann HR policies and initiatives.
Liaise with the LIMS Team to support the management of STS data quality and reporting standards.
Provide advice and guidance to the STS Teams on quality-related issues.
Provide training to the STS Teams in quality-related areas.
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders as required and communicate information in a manner than can be understood by both non-expert or expert audiences.
Monitor and report KPIs for processes over which they have ownership.
Deputise for the Quality Manager in their absence when required.
Adhere to all HSQE plans, policies, and procedures.
Carry out any other duties which the Quality Manager may reasonably request.
General Duties and Responsibilities:
Responsible for promoting and delivering health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards.
Support the delivery of the Uisce Éireann Transformation Programme, driving results required within the Directorate and supporting organisation-wide objectives.
Other duties as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
Relevant third level qualification in Science, Environmental or related discipline.
Minimum of 3 years experience working in quality in an accredited environment, preferably ISO 17025, including auditing experience, non-conformance management, and change control management.
In depth knowledge of the requirements of ISO 17025, other standards, and current legislation with respect to drinking water and wastewater sampling and analysis.
Knowledge of current analytical best practices and procedures within drinking water and wastewater sampling and analysis is desirable.
Experience of writing and reviewing laboratory procedures and related documentation.
Experience with Laboratory Quality Management Systems and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
Ability to develop effective partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders and ability to look for and listen to diverse perspectives.
Strong analytical skills and ability to identify and analyse problems and make decisions that benefit the team/communities.
Highly motivated individual, proven track record in identifying opportunities for process improvements and innovation.
Proven track record in resolving complex issues, along with the ability to communicate information to others.
Experience in taking ownership of safety responsibilities and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.
Ability to make decisions based on the analysis of information within a fast-paced customer-focused environment.
Flexibility to travel when required; full driving license and own transport is essential.
The closing date for receipt of applications for this vacancy is 03/04/2025.
Please note that applications submitted after this closing date will not be accepted.
*Please be advised that if successful you will be placed on the salary range based on your skills and experience. Please note the Market reference point (midpoint) of the range is generally the upper end of the offer where someone is deemed to be fully competent to take on the duties of the role, and leaves room for the employee to progress through the pay range as their experience develops further.
Uisce Éireann is an equal opportunities employer.
We are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive place of work and have a robust strategy and framework called ibelong to enable this. We are an equal opportunity employer and through our recruitment process we welcome and encourage applications from interested and suitably qualified individuals regardless of gender, age, racial or ethnic origin, membership of the traveller community, religion or beliefs, family or civil status, sexual orientation/gender identity or disability.